Ketchum's Rebecca Rusch enjoyed one of the thrills of a lifetime Saturday.
She shared the winner's platform with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong at the Leadville 100 Trail mountain bike race on a rainy Colorado day.
Rusch, starting her 100-mile trek at 6:30 a.m. and finishing at 2:45 p.m., won the women's division by over 25 minutes with a final time of 8.14:53. She placed 30th of 973 finishers—25 minutes faster than runner-up Amanda Carey and 1.46:02 behind men's king Armstrong.
It was the first Leadville 100 mountain bike race for three-time 24-Hour of Adrenaline Solo World Champion Rusch, 40, of Red Bull/Specialized, and it didn't come easily for her.
Armstrong, 37, riding for his Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin, Texas, was competing in the Leadville 100 for only the second time. He had a good battle last year with Dave Wiens of Gunnison, Colo. before Wiens (6.45:45) won his sixth straight Leadville 100 by two minutes over Armstrong.
This year, Armstrong entered the Leadville mountain bike race a month after his third-place finish in the 2009 Tour de France. And he set a new course record, riding all alone for the final 60 miles and finishing in 6.28:50.9, good for a 28:11 victory over 44-year-old Wiens (6.57:02).
Armstrong had a slow leak for the final 10 miles and rode to the finish nearly on his rim, with a flat tire. Still, he beat the previous course record by over 15 minutes.
Four other Wood River Valley cyclists were among the 973 finishers. There were 1,628 starters. The race entry fee for the USA Cycling-sanctioned event was $250.
94—Matt Luhn of Ketchum 8.48:13, 26th overall in M4. 136—Steve Butler of Ketchum, 9.02:43 in the M4 class. 292—Blair Clark of Hailey, 9.53:54 in the M5 class. 516—Roger Mankus of Ketchum, 10:43.22 in the M5 class.
The Leadville Trail 100, nicknamed "The Race Across the Sky," was a 50-mile out-and-back course starting and finishing at Leadville, Colo., elevation 10,200 feet. A total 90% of the course was on dirt or double-track roads, with steep climbs and serious descents. There was a seven-mile climb to the 50-mile turnaround, located at 12,600 feet. In all, there was 14,000 feet elevation gain.
It was the 15th annual Leadville 100, which started in 1994. The only other Ketchum winner besides Rusch was Richard Feldman, who captured back-to-back Leadville 100 men's victories in 1998 and 1999 with finishing times of 7.40:02 and 7.10:33.
Rusch and other cyclists finishing under nine hours received handcrafted gold and silver trophy belt buckles, and the first male and female winners earned unique ore cart trophies. They were distributed during Sunday's awards ceremony.
Ketchum’s Rebecca Rusch smiles for the camera during a remarkable moment for her last weekend in Colorado—sharing the winner’s podium with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong (right). The male and female winners earned unique ore cart trophies.
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